Panca Sutram: 4. Alambana Sutra

The flower that rests on the branch, blooms in the laps of the tree. Similarly the one who resides in the bhikshu gana  grows.

The flower which leaves its support, immediately falls on the floor. Likewise the monk who leaves his foundation,  immediately/ at once falls in the pit of bhoga/attachment.

Monk should make his own foundation strong several times. Few foundational principles are being mentioned here, others are known on its own.

The senses of human being always chase the objects of cognition. For the withdrawal of attachment, towards the sensual pleasure, the following supportive points must be thought upon.

A Saying goes - All the juices except the juice of internal bliss turns into tasteless at the end like the juice of sugarcane after crushing it from sugarcane stick. Whereas the shanta rasa is a kind of rasa which keeps on producing more and more bliss as being practiced.

Where ever there is life, there are adverse circumstances. To win over the adverse circumstances, these supportive principles must be followed.

It is rightly said, ‘If a lump of earth is thrown at the dog, it starts licking that lump itself. But if the bow is shot at the lion.’ it attacks the hunter.

Similarly, the ignorant who is surrounded by circumstances, blames the external circumstances but he doesn’t bring an end to the source of circumstances like the lion.

People are of with different type of intelligence. One of them may be angry with the other. The person with whom one becomes angry must investigate deeply the real issue.

It is said that the intelligent man should search the cause of other’s anger. If the other person is angry at him due to certain reason, then why to become angry and if he is angry without any reason, then why to become angry at all?

Milk is naturally sweet and pure. Who can compete it? Even heating it, setting it for the curd and then churning it, it gives the butter out of it.

The disciple, who is disciplined listens to the utterance of strict and harsh words of his guru. He  should remember the example of rice and present the self at his disposal as the rice.

Sraddhanandji and Darshananandji, both were well known pundits of Arya Samaj. With regard to the theoretical issue, once debate occurred between them. The assembly was called upon. Both the pundits came. Sradhanandji spoke unhonourable words for his opposer Darshananandji. But Darshananandji remained silent. The assembly was dispersed. After coming back to his seat, Shraddhanandji mentally repented and wrote a letter of  forgiveness to Darshannanadji. In reply to this letter, Darshananandji wrote a quotable quote-
“Consider us like the rice. By getting several hits from the stick, they become more and more purified. Don’t Consider ourselves as gilgilhy. With a little heat, they leave the oil and become independent of it.”

Remember the word of Dashrath. Bring Ram’s behavior in front of your eyes and accept the state of equanimity. While passing through the situations of your choice and vice versa.

King Dasharatha said, When I called Ram for the coronation/ enthronement and sent him to forest, in both the situations, I did’t see any sort of difference on the face of Ram.

The benevolence of others, the benevolent should be humble towards the benevolence. Humbleness is a effectual/ infallible mantra. The person who knows it, he can protect his treasure of virtues.

It is said, Coconut tree is indebted to the human being forever for his kind care by watering during the initial stage of its growth and carrying of load of hairy skin on its fruits. For the whole life coconut gives nectar like sweet water to the human beings because gentleman never forgets benefaction.

Quarrel is no where beneficial while eating, it is completely non-beneficial. Because the quarrel while eating slows down the process of digestion.

As it is said, ‘The one who is not engrossed with jealousy, fear, anger, greed, disease and poverty, cannot digest the food properly’.

The dim witted person can’t be taught through prejudice but he can be taught only through logic. He leaves the vice which is very difficult to be eradicated by explaining him logically.                 

The vaidya/doctor used the logical method to teach the prejudiced person. He  said by eating curds  during cold and cough, there are three types of benefits:

1. Old age doesn’t occur.
2. No stealing occurs in his house
3. Dog never bites him (Knowing this he left eating curds)     

Sometime monks face favorable situations and sometime unfavorable. But monk should never lose the state of equanimity in any situation and compare himself with the sun.

It is said, monk should maintain stability during benefit and loss, in joy and sorrow, life-death, censure-praise and respect-disrespect.

Monk shouldn’t aspire for materialistic pleasure in this life and in future. Maintain the same state of mind, even if chopped by an axe or applied sandal and whether you acquired alms or not.

When the sun rises and sun sets both the time, the space seems to be reddish. Because great people remain the same in times of prosperity and calamity.

Many persons are very sensitive so they take to heart even little thing and are scared of disrespect at every step. They should think upon the following couplets, shloka.

Humiliation etc. only disturbs those who are mentally unstable. Those who are mentally stable, insults don’t bother them.

The sadhak who want to protect their self-respect should not indulge in any sort of debate. One who indulges in debate, he authentically proves the behavior explained by Siddhasena.

It is said, ‘Amity is possible between the two fighting dogs for a single piece of flesh, who came from different villages’. But amity is impossible between the two brothers, who are indulged in the debate’.

Politeness is a natural quality of soul. But if any monk even being great learned scholar caught in the clutches of pride, he need to think over the following matter to his mind as a medicine.

It is said - Knowledge destroys the intoxication. If anybody is infatuated with it, then who can be the healer for him? Because for him, when even the medicine becomes poison, who will treat him?